This issue of Water Resources Update focuses on microbial pathogens. We highlight some surprising research findings and ongoing efforts to reduce faecal contamination of our waterways. – Jim Cooke, Centre Leader.
Safe shellfish: new regulations
A new ‘regulated control scheme’ comprising regulations and specifications for bivalve molluscan shellfish (e.g., mussels, oysters, and scallops) came into force on 1 June.
Phil Busby of the NZ Food Safety Authority says ‘most of the 82 growing areas are contaminated from land-based activities to the extent that harvesting restrictions apply.’ He says the goal of the regulated control scheme is to manage the safety of commercial shellfish by preventing harvest from contaminated areas.
Mr Busby outlined the new regulations and specifications at a two-day workshop last month sponsored by the National Centres for Water Resources and Coasts & Oceans.
The regulated control scheme provides for the classification of shellfish growing areas into six categories from ‘remote approved’ to ‘prohibited’. Classification rests mainly on a sanitary survey of the land catchment surrounding the growing area, including results from surveys of the shoreline, water quality, and bacteriological quality of the bivalve molluscan shellfish. There are other factors too; e.g., the regulations set out how to determine the minimum size of a prohibited area around sewage outfalls, within which commercial growing or harvesting of the shellfish is banned.